KiwiSox

I just dont buy it. He may sign with the Sox eventually but nothing is close.

Bears negotiated the largest ever contract for a defensive player in NFL history with Khalil Mack in like 12 hours. People will say "well that's the NFL! Its different"...and my response to that is maybe baseball should take some cues. This whole thing is absurd.

That Machado tour of Chicago, New York and Philadelphia reeks of a sham now. I would be surprised if a fourth team doesn't start being mentioned near the end of this week.

I suspect neither Harper or Machado want to be the first ones to sign. Once one option is gone both the Sox and Phillies will get mega desperate. The fact that they both are free agents is what is going to drag this maybe until April, its created a crazy dynamic.

Honestly, there's a scenario I could see one of them stretching into the regular season. It all depends when the White Sox stop bidding or hit the absolutely ceiling on what they are willing to offer. Baseball's off-season has turned into a total mess.

What's stopping it from going into Spring Training even?

I know its not the Sox fault at all but the absolutely glacial pace at which these pursuits have moved is ridiculous. Is anyone really expecting anything done before mid-February at this rate?

This whole thing is absurd.

Come on Machado its almost the second of January!!

Holy shit is that a threat from Dan Clark? Sure sounds like it.

The fact that this has gone on a month at this point and could easily go another is not good. MLB obsessively tries to cut like 90 seconds out of the average game at great cost the integrity of the sport then allows the off-season to turn into an indefinite sham where eventually everyone just burns out and ceases to care. Who doesn't love NFL free agency where you can certain almost every big name will signed, sealed and delivered within a week of free agency opening? A week-long flurry of moves is infinitely more entertaining and engaging than a three month trickle.

Luck deserves MVP consideration.

What kind of shit do you have to say to be blocked by Ken mf'in Rosenthal?

The Sox and Phillies are not giving up until the contract has been signed, and if the contract were signed we would know from one of the big name reporters.

Long-term its better for the Sox that the Indians keep Kluber and Bauer another year. Really dont need Cleveland restocking and retooling for a huge run 2-3 years from now.

I think if this process is over it would be known to a lot more people than just Dan Clark and an anonymous former player. Its a huge move, hundreds of millions of dollars changing hands, it would be noticed by more people if it had actually gone down. Besides, Machado and the Yankees gain nothing by actively suppressing this information once its agreed upon.

Are you asking why Dan Clark would leak the report? The same reason everyone seems to be clamoring to break the news of these two signings...people want to appear as if they know something others do not. This entire free agent show has turned into a circus. Frankly its something that needs to be addressed by MLB. The off-season has turned into kind of a nightmare where these sagas go on for months to no real benefit.

They dont really need to, their silence says all that needs to be said. And they dont want to put themselves in a position where they can be proven wrong in the highly possible scenario where Machado does sign with NYY.

Its been too long now without anyone picking up on that Dan Clark tweet for it still be taken as gospel. Rosenthal, Heyman etc. have undoubtedly exchanged a few texts with their people after seeing it reported by a blue checkmark and their silence speaks volumes.